Lubrication



Patented June 8, 1926. I

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. WATKINS, ,OF NEW YORK, N.

1,587,568 PATENT OFFICE.

Y., ASSIGNOR 'ro corrnR PLATE SHEET &

TUBE COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LUBRICATION.

No Drawing. i

This invention relates to lubrication at high temperatures. ,By high temperatures I mean those temperatures at or above which lubricating oils volatilize, greases'decompose and liquid or semi-liquid lubricating compounds lose their efiiciency through destruction of their liquid vehicle.

In all operations wherein is involved a metal to metal contact of moving parts a lubricant must be used if loss of power and cost of replacements of worn parts due. to fractional wear are to be minimized. Heretofore it has been possible to use lubricants only where the temperatures were comparatively low. Inability or ordinary lubricants to serve at high temperatures is attributable first to thefact that they decompose or volatilize, either in whole or in. part, and second that the product-of or residue from such decomposition or volatilization has no lubricating value. My problem was to invent or discover a material the base or residue of which would vpossess lubricating value, and at high temperatures would neither volatilize or decompose, and, most necessary of all, would possess the quality or abilit to bind itself firmly to the parts to be In ricated, and-be of a sufficient degree of liquidity to permit ready application to the parts to be lubricated. After long and laborious search I have discovered that petroleum oils having an asphaltic base satisfactorily fulfill these requirements. Such oils are readily applicable to the parts to be lubricated and when subjected to high temperatures their lighter constituents are volatilized, leaving a residue of dense ca-rbona ceous coke possessing fine lubricating qualities baked to the metal parts sought to be lubricated, and adhering with such tenacity that a chisel would be necessary to remove it.

The limit to the temperature at which it has heretofore been possible to lubricate has worked against economy in many lines, es-

' pecially in operations where it has been desirable to carry through a furnace metals for heat treatment, such as annealing, metal plat-' ing, etc. I found this tobe so in the operation of the metal plating apparatus patented, 0 in my U. 3. Patent No. 1,302,106, April 29th,

1919: The metal sheets coated by means 'of this apparatus areccarried by means of a ferrous chain conveyor through a furnace heated to above 2000F. Many attempts had been made to lubricate this conveyor chain Application filed October 1, 1921. Serial No. 504,767.

but without success. The chainwas, therefore run unlubricated, and the excessive wear due to the metal to metal contact between i ing the passage of the chain through the' furnace the volatile constituents pass off leaving on the chain a layerof dark gray carbonaceous coke. The lubricating value of this deposited residue is so great that it has reduced the wear on the links of the chain and of the teeth of the sprocket to such a degree that the effective life of the chain has beenincreased from 100 hours unlubricated to upwards of 2200 hours when lubricated. In addition, application of asphaltic base oil to the conveyor chain and to other moving metal parts has resulted in a marked decrease in the amount of power required to be used and a considerable saving effected tral conditions should prevail in the furnace as, under oxidizing conditions not only would the lubricant be consumed but the chain itself would oxidize.

Although I have found that any of the crude oils having an asphaltic base such as those of Mexico, California and Oklahoma are admirably adapted to the purpose, it is clear that other oilsmight be employed. It is also possible that an artificial mixture possessing these qualities might be compounded. It is essential only tha'tithe oil be of workable viscosity when applied andthat it deposit a firmly adherent lubricating residue upon volatilization of its lighter constituents.

I claim:

-1. A method of lubricating parts to be .used in non-oxidizing atmospheres at .or above temperatures at which in a non-oxidizing atmosphere the carbonization of lubricating mineral oils is substantially complete, which comprises appl ing to the parts to be lubricated a minera oil having an asphaltic base and subjecting the parts and oil to temperatures sufiicientlyhigh to drive off from the oil all of its volatile constituents and deposits upon said parts an adherent solid residue having lubricating values.

, oil having an asphaltic base and heating the coated parts to drive oil all of the volatile constituents of the oil and deposit an ad-.

herent residue of coke on the parts.

3. The method of producing a solid adherent carbonaceous lubricating layer on Wearing surfaces, which consists in applying to said surfaces a mineral oil having an asphaltic base, and thereafter subjecting said memes surfaces in a non-oxidizin environment to a temperature high enough ,to vaporize all of the liquid constituents of said oil and to form upon the said surfaces from the resi due the carbonaceous lubricating layer desired.

4. A method of lubricating parts to be used in non-oxidizing atmospheres at about 2000 F. which comprises applying to the parts to be lubricated a mineral oil having an asphaltic base and sub'ecting'the parts and oil to temperatures su 'eiently high to drive oil from the oil all of its volatile constituents and deposit upon said 'parts an adherent solid residue having lubricating values.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. Y

WILLIAM E. WATKINS. 

